Electric water-heater.



M. SIMON.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER. APPLICATION vFILED DEC. I. I9I5. 1 1 96,487, l Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l'.

M. SHVIUN. ELECTRIC WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1915- 1,196,487.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEE l' PatontedAug. 2), IMU.

UNITED STATES MAURICE SIMN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC W A TER-HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.l

Application led December 7, 1915. Serial No. 65,483.

To all whom t may concern:

Bc it known that l, MAURicn Sinon, a citizen' oi' the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful'llllectric Waterlleater, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improveimnts in electric water heaters, and consists in the novel design and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully disclosed.

An object of the invention is to produce an economical and efficient water heater in which the water is passed through a tortuous heating chamber in which are disposed coils of resistance wire so arranged that a volume 0i' water passing through the chamber will be brought into direct contact with said coils.

Another object ot the invention is to provide an electric water heater including a tortuous insulated chamber having heating resistance coils disposed therein, with provision tor automatically controlling theI electrical energizing circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water heater having a heating chamber of novel design in which is disposed a continuous stretch of resistance wire arranged in coils, so that the entire volume ot' water passing through the heater will be brought in contact with the stretch oi resistance wire and thereby7 become heated, with provision for breaking the electrical. energizing circuit when a predetermined maximum heat has been attained.

Additional advantages and features attainable from the present invention are contemplated and their nature and character will be readily understood without speeiic mention i'rom the following detailed disclosure of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is ay vertical section through the heater and through the associated electrical eurrent-controlling devices used in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a cross section through the heater taken substantially on the line 2-2 ol Fig. 1 showing the interior construction oi one oi' the sections of the heating chamber with the resistance wire disposed therein, and illustrating indetail the construction of thc thermostatic device which is part of the current control. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the heater substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the back plate of the other section of the heating chamber. Fig. et is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical energizing circuit and the resistance circuit, together with the controlling deviccstherefor.

In the-enibmliment ot' the invention illustratcd in the drawings` the heater case comprises a circular back plate l, a circular front plate 2, and intermediate circular partition plates and 4, the plate 3 having an inwardly extending annular iiange 5 from the inner edge oi' which extends a rim (i, and the plate t having an outwardly7 extending annular tl ange 7 from the outer edge of which extends an annular rim S. Thus, when the plates 3 ,and 4 are secured together by bolts t) passing therethrough and the plates l and 2 are mounted in position, two parallel chan'lbers or compartments are formed, in each ol which is arranged a tortuous duct or passage for the water. The interior surfaces ot the chambers or compartments are insulated by providing an enamel coating for the surfaces, or it desired separate `insulating shells may be inserted within the chambers. The purpose oi insulating the inner surfaces of the compartments will be apparent from the further description ot the apparatus.

ln order to provide means for securing the heater case to a vertical support I provide brackets 10 which are formed integral with the plate l through which bolts 11 may be passed for securing the heater in a vertical position. lxlousings 1:.) are provided over the plates l and 2, which'housings` 'l'orm air spaces or compartments in which is packed a quantity oi2 mineral wool 13, or other nonheat conducting material to prevent radiation ot the heat from the plates. rlhe plate Q has formed integrally therewith a tubular extension 14 constituting an inlet for conducting the inflow oi" the fluid from a supply passage 15, and formed integrally with the llange 5 is a tubular extension lo constituting` an outlet passage for the out- Ilow o'l" the liquid trom the heater, said passage being connected into a service conduit 1.7.

The tortuousducts or passages formed in the chambers of the heater are intercomlnunicating, so that fluid entering the supply conduit 1.4 will be required to pass through an extended passage within the heater before passing to the outlet 1G. The

' sive with the y and the plate tortuous passagesvin the chambers of the heater are formed from partition walls of insulating material, said partition walls being substantially duplicate i-n construction and in practice being formed from porcelain, enamel, or other suitable insulating material, and each comprising continuous helical, parallel, transverse walls 18 and 19, the alternate curves ofthe helix formed by the walls being closed at the pp posite edges by integrally formed vertical walls 2O and 21. The walls 18 andl19 are integrally united at the center, there being a passage 22 through the walls approximately at the point of union thereof.

When the partition walls are mounted in the chambers in which they are held in position by clamping extensions 23 of the walls' 2l between the plate 1 and the rim I6 2 and the rim 8, respectively, an extended tortuouspassage for the flow of the liquid is formed. The water entering through the inlet 14 flows around the outer curve of the helical passage formed between the outer curve of the wall 19 and passes into the next curve of the helix between the walls V18 and 19 until it reaches the center of the heater, then passes through thepassage 22 and backy to the periphery of the chamber from which it' is conducted through an opening' 24 through the par,- tition plates '3 and 4, into the adjacent chamber, flowing in a like manner therethrough and discharging through the passage 16. Forming a tortuous passage in the manner described-.gives an extended length of flow in a compact space.

The advantage of forming the partition Walls in the manner described lies chiefly in the fact that the partition walls may be readily manufactured from flat sheets or plates formed in dies' and an economy in material effected, as the interior of lthe cliambers is utilized as walls of the duct. It will also lbe noted that when the partition walls arein position the verticalend walls 20 and 21 extend adjacent to the interior of the chambers for a considerable distance so that each'stretch of the duct is sealed from the other, preventing seepage of the water from the normal course through the assa es.

Th which is co-extentortuous water passage within the heater is formed from a continuous stretch of resistance wire 25 wound p'referably in the manner illustrated in the drawe resistance circuit kings in the form of a series of helical concs oppositely disposed, and the bases thereof abutting. Thus, the resistance wire extends in the conduit so that stretches thereof will be disposed in different ci'oss sectional points so that the entire volume of water passing through the duct will be brought-iii contact .with the resistance wire. Moreover, the enlarged curves or bulging parts ,armature plate 3G which an electromagnet 37.

shunt circuit being of the stretches at the matching bases of the conical formations serves to hold the resistance wire in against the edges of the passage. I do not desiie to lthe resistance circuit, but Where the stretches alternately diminish and enlarge in diameter the path of the water is intersected throughout its length by windings of the resistance wire, the resistance wire coming in direct contact with the, entire volume of water passing through the duct.

A. terminal binding post 26 extending out y through the plate 2 is provided at one end of the resistance circuit and a terminal binding post 27 is provided at the other end. of the re` sistance circuit. The entire energizing circuit, the resistance circuit and the controlling et of the drawings. the electrical supply the binding post 27.

One main lead 28 of circuit is attached to A lead 29 from the other pole; of the supply circuit leads to a terminal Contact plate 30 ofl a switch del vice having a complementary contact plate 31. A lead 32 leads from the contact 3l to the binding post 26 of the resistance ci'rcuit. The connection bet ween.the contact plates 30 and 31- is effected through a switch plate 33 which is supported upon a Vstein 31,V

the plate 33 being held tact with the plates 30 On the opposite end normally out of conan'dl by a spring of the stem 34C is an is under control of The electromagnet is in a shunt circuit comprising a lead 38 from the contact plate 30 to one pole o'f the electromagnet, the complete through a 'lead 39 from the other thermostatic device 40, the details of which will be described a circuit breaker normally lmaintaining the lead 39 in electrical connection with a lead 411, which terminates in a binding post 42 having an inwardly extending contact stein 43. The contact stein 43 is a part of a switch device under control of the fluid pressure in the supply passage. The switch device has a complementary contact meinber 441- having a binding post 45 from which a lead 4G terminating in the contact member of construction of which will be explained hereinafter. Suflice it to pole thereof leading to a hereinafter, which acts asl the pressure operated de-` position by abutting I 90 devices therefor are fully-illustrated in Fig.

say for the present purpose that when Water is Withdrawn from the heater the plate 47 contacts with the members 43 and 44. When the contact is made and the circuit completed through the members 43 and 44 it will be observed that the shunt circuit, comprising the lead 38, the electromagnet 37, the lead 39, the circuit breaker 40, the lead 41 and the lead 46, is closed, as the lead 46 is in electrical connection through the lead 32 and the resistance circuit with the main lead Q8 of the circuit. 'Vhen the shunt circuit has thus been lclosed the electroniag'net 37 is energized moving the armature 3G and thereby the stem 34 and the plate 3'2 toward the electromagnet, which movement brings the plate 33 into contact with the terminal elements 30 and 31, thereby completing the main circuit and throwing a full current across from the lead 29 to the lead 32, effectively to energize the resistance circuit to the extent of the current supplied through the main line. The main circuit will remain closed so long as the shunt circuit remains closed,

it being observed that the shunt circuit may be Opened either by operation of the device 40, or by operation oi the pressure device in the supply conduit. The thermostatic device 40 is designed to operate and open the circuit when a predetermined heat has been attained within the heating chamber.

The thermostatic device comprises plates 48 and 49 secured together at their ends and mounted upon an insulated block 50, the lead 39 being electrically connected with said plates and the whole device being preferably mounted adjacent to the discharge outlet from tlieheater. The plates 4S and 49 are of diierent co-elicients of' expansion, the plate 48 having a smaller co-etlicient oi expansion than the plate 49. The plate 49 has attached thereto a hooked-stein 51, the end of which is adapted to engage against a spring plate 52 attached to a binding post 53 and insulated from-the walls of the heater, said binding post having connected thereto the lead 41 of the shunt circuit.

lVhen the heat in the chamber rises to a predetermined maximum limit the relatively greater expansion of the plate 49 will bow the same outwardly suiiciently to move the stem 51 out of contact with the plate 52, thereby opening the shunt circuit, causing the electromagnet 37 to be deiiergii'ed per'- mitting the release of the armature 36, the spring 34 carryingr the plate 33 out of contact with the members 30 and 31, thereby opening the main circuit. When the Water in the heater has again dropped below the' predetermined maximum the plates 48 and 49 will return to normal position again closing both the shunt circuit and the main circuit.

rlhe pressure operated device in the supply 'conduit comprises a sleeve 54 mounted outlet passage from Within the supply passage and incidentally constituting a union between said supply passageand the-inlet passage 14. Vithin the sleeve 54 is mounted a ring 55 having radial armsiG supporting at their center a sleeve 57 in which is mounted a stein 58. The inner face of th\e ring 55 constitutes a valve seat for a valve plug 59 which is mounted upon the extremity of the stem 58. The valve plug 59 is of insulating material and carries on its outer face the plate 47 through which the circuit from the terminals 43 and 44 is controlled. This consti'uction has the following mode of operation:

The valve plug 59 is normally held to its seat, closing communication between the supply passage 15v and thefinlet passage 14. When pressure in the inlet passage 14 is reduced by opening the discharge passage 17 from the heater, the pressure of the valve in the supply passage 15 will force the valve outwardly bringing the plate 47 into Contact with the members 43 and 44. 'When the pressure is again equalized by closing the the heater, a spring 60 encircling the stem 5S will bring the valve plug 59 to its seat and close the passage automatically.

I am aware that numerous changes `may be made' in the construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.` I do not desire to limit myself there- *fore to exact details shown and described,

but

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1- 1. An electric water heater comprising a heating chamber, a partition plate in said chamber forming a tortuous passage for the flow of the -water therethrough, a resistance circuit comprising a stretch of resistance wire formed in coils and mounted in said passage, a main circuit for energizing said resistance circuit, and electrically controlled means `under the influence of pressure in the heater `for making and breaking said electrical circuit for supplying said resistance circuit, substantially as specified.

2. A water heater comprising a case having adjacent compartments therein, partitions iii each of said compartments forming together' a communicating tortuous passage, a resistance circuit seated in said passage and comprising a stretch of resistance wire termed in united coils, an electric circuit connected into said resistance circuit, a circuit-breaker in said circuit, and electrical means under control of the pressure in the heater for controlling said circuit breaker, substantially as specified.

3. ln an electric water heater, a tortuous heating chamber, a resistance circuit mounta circuit breaker in said main circuit no rmally in open adjustment, a shunt clrcuit, an electrical device in said shunt circuit for controlling said circuit breaker, a thermostat in said shunt circuit adapted to make and break said shunt circuit, and a water pressure control device in said shunt circuit for making and breaking said shunt circuit, substantially as specified.

1i. A -:water heater comprising parallel chambers, partitions in said chambers providing a tortuous passage extending from the periphery of the heater to the center and outwardly to the periphery with a communieating passage to the periphery of the adjacent chamber, a resistance circuit compris ing a series of integrally united coils having turns of varying diameters mounted in said passage, a circuit for energizing said resistance circuit, electrical means under the y inuence of heat in said chamber for controlling said energizing circuit, and additional means under the iniiuence of pressure i in said heater for controlling said circuit.

5.'In a water heater, a case divided intol two'parallel chambers, a communicating passage between said chambers, partition walls in 'said chambers forming tortuous passages therein, a resistance circuit comprising a continuous stretch of resistance wire formed in coils having turns of varying diameters, a circuit for energizing said resistance circuit, and means under the influence of pressure in said heater for controlling said circuit, substantially as speciiied. i

6. In a water heater, a case divided into two parallel chambers, a communicating passage between said chambers, partition walls in said chambers forming tortuousl passages therein, a resistance circuit comprisinga continuous stretch of resistance wire formed 1n coils having turns of varyinea-fier ing diameters, a circuit for energizing said resistance circuit, and means under" the inluence of the heat in said chamber for controlling said Icircuit, substantially as speci? fied.

\7. An electric water heater comprisingparallel tortuous heating chambers, an inlet passage entering the periphery of one of said chambers, a discharge passage discharging adjacent to the periphery of the other of v member in said circuit, a shunt circuit, an

electromagnet in said shunt circuit adapted to control said switch member, electric means operated by pressure in said heater for energizing said shunt circuit and there' by causing said electromagnet to close the main circuit, and means under the influence 4 of heat in the chamber for opening said shunt circuit and thereby said main circuit, substantially as specified.

8. In a water heater a tortuous heating passage, a resistance circuit comprising a stretch of. resistance wire formediin coils and submerged in the water passing through said passage, an energizing circuit for Said resistance circuit, means under the iniiuence of the heat in said passage for controlling said energizing circuit, and additional electrical means operated by pressure in said heater for controlling said energizing circuit, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAURICE SIMON.

Witnesses:

LC. KINGSLAND, N. G. BUTLER. 

